Now in its fifth year the Solar Car Challenge has become a popular annual summer event. This year the event returned to Nicosia and the Solar Cars raced in the City Center using the sun as their only fuel. The race was co-organized with Nicaosia Municipality.

The race was truly high-tech. Nine teams used great manufacturing technologies, all of which were put together to build their solar vehicles. The race cars had large solar panels set on the roof to receive as much sunlight as possible to fuel their engines. The amazing designs presented offered a one-time experience to dozens of spectators, who watched this breath-breaking event held on the streets in the heart of Nicosia.

The winner of the race was the Technical School of Augorou - Famagusta Solar Car Team, with their vehicle Hyperion 2. The team completed 65 laps in three hours, reaching a maximum speed of over 50 km/hr.

The Best Design Award went to first time participants, Team Club RA Belarus from Limassol.

The 9 participating teams which designed and built their vehicles themselves were:

• Technical School of Avgorou - Famagusta Solar Car Team, Ammochostos with 2 vehicles, Hyperion 1 and Hyperion 2
• Club RA Belarus, Limassol (private individuals)
• Technical School Ayiou Lazarou - Team Phivos (Φοίβος), Larnaca
• Philadelphia University, Jordan
• Pascal English School - Team Solevo 3, Nicosia
• Team 91, Limassol
• NUST-PNEC University, Pakistan
• Sun-der, Nicosia (private individuals)
• Odyssey, Nicosia (private individuals)

The Cyprus Institute and the Nicosia Municipality, aim to promote research and innovation in the use of solar energy, and through events like the Solar Car Race to raise the interest of the public, particularly of young people for the use of alternative energy resources.

During the Award Ceremony, held at the Nicosia Town Hall, the Associate Vice President for Administration CREF Dr Michael Yiangou stressed that the involvement of young people in such events, opens new horizons for future scientists causing their interest in science, technology, development and utilization of alternative energy sources.

The Mayor of Nicosia, Mr. Constantinos Yiorkadjis mentioned the big problem of air pollution stressing that thousands of cars moving on the streets of Cyprus, emitting harmful pollutants, and added that solar energy is for the economy of our country and in particular for the transport sector, the only long-term solution. Besides, he pointed out that Cyprus with abundant sunshine throughout the year, has enormous potentials far a widespread use and application of solar energy. Mr. Yiorkadjis concluded by saying that, considering the great success of the Solar Car Challenge 2014, The Cyprus Institute, Nicosia Municipality and other authorities plan to upgrade the event to a regional and global event with broad international participation, which will provide an excellent opportunity to promote our country in the international community.

See you all next year at the 2015 Solar Car Challenge!